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Who do I have to contact to get my bench positioned in a public place?

We recommend that you contact the local council that represents the area in which you would like your bench to be placed. You will need to obtain permission before your bench can be fixed in a public place and the local council will be able to provide you with all the information to do this. You can find the contact details for the appropriate council here,

click to see list of local councils

Who do I have to contact to have my bench positioned in a cemetery or church yard?

We recommend that you contact the grounds manager for the church or cemetery. Very often if you carry out an internet search for the cemetery or church where you would like your bench to be positioned, contact details are readily available.

Can I install my bench myself?

Our bench anchors are easy to install, and there is an instruction video on our website:

click here to watch bench anchors installation video

There is an option on the website to purchase the bench anchors to soft ground with the installation tool. The bench anchors to concrete only require standard tools such as a drill and screwdriver.
We do offer an installation service if you are unable or unsure of installing the bench yourself.

click here to see bench anchors
click here to find out about our installation service

Do I have to treat my bench?

Teak Benches
Our teak benches are made from the highest quality teak which means that they come ready to use.
Teak can be left outside all year round, surviving even the most extreme weather conditions. Therefore, teak is often considered the gold standard for outdoor benches as it does not warp, rot or crack.
Teak wood does not require treatment because it is protected by its own natural oils that migrate to the surface of the wood and make the wood virtually impervious to water.
Over time, as natural teak is exposed to the elements, it gradually changes colour from the golden brown colour of new teak to a silver-grey patina, but this does not harm the strength or quality of the bench. We recommend that you allow your teak furniture to weather naturally apart from occasional cleaning. Simply clean your bench once or twice a year with soapy water or Golden Care Teak Cleaner. Teak furniture may also benefit from an occasional light sanding. Sanding any roughness of the grain can make the furniture seem just like new again.

If you would like the bench to retain its original colour, we suggest the use of a Golden Care Teak Protector. It is a water based treatment (not oil based) which will allow the wood to retain its original colour for longer. It reinforces the colour and gives a beautiful end-result. Application of Teak Protector will not affect the strength or longevity of the furniture in any way, just its appearance.
You will need to apply regular coats of Teak Protector. The condition of the teak and the environment in which the teak is used will dictate the frequency of the reapplication. Golden Teak Protector should be used when the teak furniture starts to turn pale. We recommend using Golden Teak Protector on a small area first such as the back of a leg to judge if the treatment meets your expectations.

The use of varnish and oil on teak furniture is not recommended. Products such as varnish and polyurethane will peel and chip and are difficult to remove without vigorous sanding. Oiling teak will not prevent the wood from greying and often results in mould and mildew growing on the furniture (which usually shows up as black dots or patches).

Oak
The oak has been treated at source with a sealer and wood preservative. Once outside this will last about 6 months depending on the elements.
It is important that further treatment is applied as soon as you see the colour fading and the wood grain rising. This treatment allows you to maintain the natural look of you bench, whilst extending its longevity so you get maximum use out of your bench.
The recommended maintenance kit for Oxford FSC oak bench comprising of 500ml wood cleaner, 500ml oil, sponge, cotton cloth, paint brush, cleaning brush, sand paper and gloves is supplied with your bench. Additional maintenance kits or Osmo oil can be also purchased.
Treatment should be repeated as and when you experience the same indications in future years. Although this will reduce the amount of cracking that the wood will produce over the years, it will not prevent it totally.
The oak has been constructed in such a way that any cracks will not affect its ability to perform as a piece of furniture. Oak is a wide grained wood and cracks or shakes will open and close depending on the weather. These add to its character and are typical of this well know timber.
If the furniture is not re-treated it will start to weather very quickly and will adopt all the characteristics of oak - i.e. changing to silver in colour and developing shakes, throughout the life of the furniture.

Mahogany
Due to the weathering process and timber being a natural material, joints will become slightly offset and surface cracks will occur. Depending on the climatic conditions when your bench is outside, this can happen within only a few hours and will not compromise the strength of the bench, which is designed with this in mind.
The timber can be left to weather down or alternatively can be treated with Alexander Rose timber treatment plus and timber sealer, the latter of which is optional.
Your furniture can be cleaned using soapy water and a stiff brush, allowing it to dry fully before the application of any timber treatment.
More severe stains such as spillages, birds droppings and mildew etc. can be removed by using Golden Care cleaner. Alternatively, sand using a medium grit sandpaper.
Lifting grain and cracks can be glued using a waterproof adhesive suitable for timber. Clamping may be necessary with excess glue being removed using a damp cloth. The area should be sanded once the glue is dry.
From time to time it is necessary to check and if required, re-tighten all bolts.

Roble
Roble is a durable hardwood which is light yellow in colour. It has a smooth luster and texture with a closely interlocked grain and has similar qualities to teak. If left untreated roble will mellow down to a silver grey appearance. The timber can be left to weather down or alternatively can be treated with Alexander Rose timber treatment plus to enhance the beauty of the wood, timber sealer to ensure the best possible protection against grime and weathering or Golden Care protector.
Your furniture can be cleaned using soapy water and a stiff brush, allowing it to dry fully before the application of any timber treatment.
More severe stains such as spillages, birds droppings and mildew etc. can be removed by using Golden Care cleaner. Alternatively, sand using a medium grit sandpaper.
Lifting grain and cracks can be glued using a waterproof adhesive suitable for timber. Clamping may be necessary with excess glue being removed using a damp cloth. The area should be sanded once the glue is dry.
From time to time it is necessary to check and if required, re-tighten all bolts.

Pine
Our pine benches have been treated in order to make them suitable for outdoor use, giving a durability of 10 years. Colour varies from pale yellow to green, which then mellows over time to silver grey. As with all natural timber products they will be subject to movement and deterioration as they season. This may become evident with shakes, splits and warping. Timber is a natural product and these are not considered to be a fault or defect. Pine should be treated annually with a preserver such as Cuprinol or Ronseal.

Wood treatments can be purchased from our website: please click here

What is the expected lifespan of a bench?

Teak Benches
Teak is the perfect hardwood when it comes to outdoor furniture. Its naturally high oil content gives it a formidable resistance to extreme weather conditions making it a very durable timber with a life span of 25 years plus.
For more information about teak please click here

Roble Benches
Its strength is similar to teak and has a durability of 25 years plus.

Oak Benches
The oak wood is naturally resistant to decay and insect attack with a life of at least 25 years.

Mahogany Benches
This is a moderately durable hardwood, able to resist the most inclement weather, giving a life span in excess of 12 years plus if properly looked after, it is therefore well suited for garden furniture.

Pine Benches
Each piece of furniture is preservative treated in order to make them suitable for outdoor use, giving it a durability of 10 years plus.

Why is there a maximum number of engraved characters?

The longer the inscription, the smaller the letters that are inscribed have to be. Clearly the larger the bench, the more flexible the inscription length can be. In each bench description we specify a maximum number of letters that can be engraved on that bench. It provides the clearest and best letter size for inscription.

What font of inscription is used?

A standardised font of inscription is used, which can be seen on our benches in our portfolio section of our website. What we will ask is whether you would like your inscription in uppercase, or a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters. We recommend uppercase letters throughout the inscription as it adds extra clarity to your inscription, as uppercase letters tend to be slightly larger than lowercase letters.

click to see font

Can I have a logo or small image inscribed?

Yes, please email us a logo or image and we will price this engraving service for you. Please note that we need a vector image (.dxf, .dwg, .eps, .ai, .pdf, .pvc, .v3d, .v3m) to engrave a logo. If you are not able to supply that, please email us a jpeg / gif file which can be converted into a vector image by our graphic designer for an extra charge.

How long will it take from ordering to delivery of my bench?

We have a lead time of 5 working days if you choose our express service and three weeks for standard delivery of your bench. It takes time to inscribe your bench and we like to make sure that we get it done accurately and to a high standard.

click here to see our delivery page

Is it true that under new health and safety laws benches must be more than 17.75in high?

The myth : "All park benches must be replaced because they are 3 inches too low".
The reality: "When we heard this story it really took us by surprise. How could there be health & safety law on this? The simple answer is, there isn't.
'It seems that the story originated from a decision by a facility manager and has no basis in health and safety law at all. There are no such bench height requirements and HSE will definitely not be sending our inspectors around measuring the benches! Well, it looks like Britain's park benches will survive after all!"
Source: Health and Safety Executive Website click to see source - HSE, accessed on 03/03/2014

Are your benches delivered ready assembled?

Unlike other companies our benches are always delivered assembled. If we deliver with our own driver the bench is assembled on site by professional and trained staff thus enabling us to delivery benches to properties with restricted access.
If for any reason your want your bench delivered flat packed, most of our benches can be assembled by one person and the assembly process should not take longer than 30 minutes. Very little assembly is required (mainly using wooden dowels). Please follow few easy steps as on the assembly instructions and you can also see the process at a slide show below: see our assembly video

What is FSC®?

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) is a global, not-for-profit organization, founded in 1993, dedicated to the promotion of responsible forest management worldwide.
Today, the FSC is considered the "Gold Standard" in green certification endorsed by the leading environmental organisations.
All products that carry the FSC logo assure our customers that they meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

click here to find our more about FSC
Do you sell benches made of FSC® certfied timber?

Do you sell benches made of FSC® certfied timber?

Yes, a lot of our benches are made of hardwood and softwood from responsible source. Look for products with FSC trademark in the product name or description.
fsc logo

fsc logo